Hasp device



Feb. A15, 1944.

J. RITTER, JR

HAsP DEVICE Filed Oct. 22, 1942 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATEN` OFFICE HASP DEVICE .y JuliusRitter, Jr., Racine, Wis., assigner to Hartmann Trunk Company, Racine,Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application October 2.2, 1942, SerialNo. 462,97!)

(C1. 2oz-#282) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hasp devices, and moreparticularlyl to nonmetallic hasp devices particularly suited for use onwardrobe containers'and luggage.

Due to the present scarcity of metal for civilian commodities, it isnecessary to eliminate the use of metal wherever possible and it is,therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a simpleand effective non-metallic hasp` device, especially, although notsolely, adapted for securing together'the complementary sections of atrunk or piece of luggage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a eXib-le, non-metallichasp device for a luggage case constructed of the same materials asthose utilized on exterior portions of the case, blend ing with the sameand giving to the case a unique and attractive rugged appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container hasp deviceof leather or the like, adapted, when in engaged condition, to have asmall padlock applied thereto whereby unauthorized opening of thecontainer may be prevented. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a hasp device which maybe easily and quickly manipulated, which provides a Very secure andeffective fastening, which is strong and durable, which is inexpensiveto manufacture, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of theimproved hasp device, and its parts and combinations as set forth in theclaims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the Views:

Fig. l is a top View of a hand luggage case equipped with the improvedhasp devices;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, detail sectional view taken on line3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail, sectional view taken on line4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail sectional view similar toFig. 3 only showing the hasp device in disengaged position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will appear that twoof the improved hasp devices are, by way of illustration, shown appliedto top outer wall portions of a pair of complementary sections 8 and 9of a hand luggage case. Inasmuch as the hasp devices are identical, onlyone of the same willbe described in detail.

One element of the hasp device comprises a flexible strap member I 0formed of leather, composition, Fabrikoid, or the like and it bridgesthe meeting edge portions of the walls of the sections 8 and 9 of theIcase or container to which it is applied. One end portion of thestrapmember is sewed or otherwise secured to one of the case sections, assection 8, and the free portion of the strap member extends transverselyover the line of junction of the case sections onto the case section 9.The free end portion of the strap member over the top wall of the casesection 9 is formed with a longitudinal slot II.

The other or complementary element of the hasp device comprises asecuring member indicated generally by the numeral I2. Said member is inthe form of a flexible strip of material of the same nature as that ofthe strap member I6. There are two effective and functioning portions ofthe member I2. The base portion, indicated by the numeral I3, is securedto the outer top wall of one of the sections of the containertransversely to the outer or free end portion of the strap I0 andunderlying the same. An extent of the base portion is, however, doubledupon itself to give thickness and rigidity with said doubled portionbeing projected outwardly to form a rib or welt I4. The plies of the ribor welt portion I4 are secured together by stitching, as shown in Figs.3 and 5, and said rib is positioned so as to coincide and register withthe longitudinal slot Il in the strap member Ill. The rib or weltportion I4, inwardly from its upper or outer end, is formed with atransverse slot I5.

That portion of the member I2 which is unsecured is folded back uponitself to form a flexible tongue I6 whose free extremity is tapered, asat I1. Toward the tapered extremity the tongue I6 is provided with asmall aperture I8, for the purpose hereinafter to be set forth.

When the sections of the container or luggage case are closed, as inFig. 1, the straps I0 extend over and bridge the adjacent meeting wallportions of the container sections. The slots II in the free ends of thestraps I0 are caused to register with the ribs III and when the freeends of the straps are pushed downwardly or inwardly the ribs Ifi areprojected through the slots I I, thus anchoring the free ends of thestraps and tying the container sections together in closed condition.The straps are secured in the last-mentioned condition againstaccidental dislodgement by means of the tongues I6. Said tongues havetheir tapered end portions passed through the slots I5 in the ribs I4whereby the tongues overlie the straps, holding the same flatly againstthe base portions I3 of the securing members and preventing the samefrom moving off of the free ends of the ribs I4. If it is desired tolock the container sections in closed condition the bar portion of asmall padlock I9 may be passed through the aperture I8 of asecuredvtongue I6.

When the lock is engaged the tongue cannot be withdrawn through theslotted rib I4. The hasp device may be opened or released through areversal of the operations described.

From the foregoing description it Will be seen that the improved haspdevice does not require the use of metal in any of its component parts.The device, being of leather or other strong flexible material, maymatch the covering material or handles of the luggage case or containerto which it is applied, and thus presents an appearance which isharmonizing, rugged and attractive. The hasp device may be manipulatedeasily and quickly, and is well adapted for the purposes described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A hasp device for a pair of complementary closure members, comprisinga iexible strap having one end anchored to one of the closure membersand having its free end extending across the junction of the closuremembers, the free end portion of the strap being formed with anaperture, a iiexible strip having a portion thereof anchored on thesecond closure member adjacent the free end of the strap, the anchoredportion of the strip being formed with an outstanding tuck forming arib, said rib being insertable through the strap aperture and having aslot therein alined with the direction of extent of the strap, and aexible tongue integral with and extending free from the anchored portionof the strip and foldable thereover transversely of the strap, saidtongue being insertable through the rib slot to overlie said strapandhold' the same on the rib.

2'. A non-metallic hasp device for a pair of complementary closuremembers, comprising a through the strap slot and having a slot therein,

alined with the direction of extent of the strap, a flexible tongueintegral with and extending from the anchored portion of the strip'andfoldable thereover transversely of the strap, said tongue beinginsertable through the,rib,s1ot to`I overlie saidstrap and hold the sameon the rb` the free end portion .of the tongue. beyond the engagementwith the rib having an aperture therein for the attachment ofc apadlock.

kJULrUs RITTER, Jeff

